Random

There is always time for reflection….and love for a movie starring Kevin Bacon!

Career transitions are difficult when you leave a company where you have been employed for over a quarter of a century.

In my first year of becoming a full-time caregiver while chasing solo professional dreams at the same time, I’ve learned plenty about myself. Overcoming challenges going from a front-facing public job to a more behind the scenes occupation is a tall task.

Although broadcasting and management was 90 percent of my job, I would create writing content for radio station imaging, social media, and web platforms daily. Sharing about my life and interests was valuable in listeners learning about the personality behind the voice they heard on their daily commute.

Last week, I posted about a recent movie I saw and compared it with epic movies from 1984. It’s what I would do at my former job. There I would receive great attention for it. Heck. It was often a picture of my dogs or a post about the Huskers would receive impressions that could fill an arena. On my own, the personally branded web site received some clicks, and it was not seen at all on LinkedIn. To verify that, I received what I assume was an automated note from the site saying “Hey buddy, you may want to write about, you know… work. Or how about work life balance or a work obstacle you recently overcame.”

Well, this content is what I did for work.  Seriously. As strange as that sounds. Maybe LinkedIn is more focused on catering to CEO’s than creative thought about superb movies from 1984. That’s a shame. I mean, have you ever seen “Footlose”? There is a time to laugh, and a time to weep, and a time to mourn and there is a time to cherish movies from 40 years ago.

Here’s some key pivots I needed to make in this new work lifestyle:

Many of my goals were benefiting the radio station. Attract big ratings. Help generate sales for a monthly budget. Ensure staff reach their potential and beyond.

Now, I am challenged to create personal goals not influenced by my company.

I knew every month what activities needed to be completed. Producing music logs, voicing commercials, making plans for attracting new listeners.

Now, I must create MY vision for the future. What do I want to accomplish? How will I reach my potential?

I relied on the “creative energy” of talented broadcasters and the vibe of the studio.

Now, I work on my own. At home. My workday for professional projects like voiceover projects and writing might be 6-9pm tonight and 2-5am tomorrow. I’m confident old colleagues who are chasing their own goals don’t want to meet me for coffee at a truck stop at that time.

I was always up on industry news so I could think about “best practices” of the profession.

I don’t have that as available to me now. If you know of a full-time caregiver looking to create something meaningful at 3am, hit me up. Those articles are rarely written.

I had a routine. Up at 4:11am on weekdays and I worked 45 weekends a year.

Now, it’s a conscientious effort to prioritize where I put my energy after my caregiving responsibilities for my adult son.

How do you pursue your professional projects when you are a full-time caregiver at home? What are the best practices you employ to reach your potential?  Feel free to reach out to me or comment below. I’d love to hear from you.

Eleven Life Lessons Learned on a Saturday Morning at Sam’s Club

Philosophers have long debated the meaning of life. To prove this, you can see the ponder in the gaze of that naked David statue from back in 1504. If only Michaelangelo had a membership to Sam’s Club back in the day, he could have informed David the meaning of life could be solved by going to the massive warehouse retail store on a late Saturday morning. Then, he could have used that time to buy David some pants.

My parents lovingly gave me a membership to the club back in the 90’s. I was in college. I purchased large industry sized vats of processed nacho cheese and tortilla chips. Alas, I did not have the sculpted body of David. But every night of my senior year before graduation was as if I ate dinner at Three Rivers Stadium and paired it with cold frosty beers. Life was grand! And my cholesterol was also at a grand.

This brings me to one of life’s best hidden gems. The $4.98 rotisserie chicken they cook on-site. My parents first told me about it. They can split one and dine on the leftovers for a week. As a family with big appetites, we usually polish one off for lunch. Best deal around. A hearty lunch for under five bucks. This past weekend, I tried working out at the gym and burning off those calories from college…or yesterday at Taco Johns. I called my lovely wife and said I would pick up one of those “fancy chickens” for lunch. The parking lot at Sam’s looked like Arrowhead stadium for a playoff series game. I thought about quitting. I did not. I pressed on like a real American hero.

I often mocked shoppers who would mill around and wait for the chickens to be prepared and presented to the public. Have these people nothing better to do with their time? My wife was so excited when I hatched the lunch plan. The timer on the cooker case said 7 minutes. I decided to wait it out. My bladder is much smaller than college, so I killed time in the restroom. I ran into an old acquaintance. He said, “Hey brother Tony, you still rocking it out on the radio?.” I informed him that I left my job there last June to be a caregiver for my adult son with autism. The enthusiasm trailed off in his voice. It’s amazing how many people still think I work daily cranking out radio content. Well, he’s not going to ask me for concert tickets now I thought. He then thanked me for a fundraiser I did over TWO DECADES ago. He said it was great and he really appreciated it. They made over $15,000. That’s a lot of fancy chickens I said to myself internally. He then said it was great I was looking out for my little man. It was a nice moment at the urinal. I have never typed that sentence before.

3 minutes down and I notice the gathering has grown threefold at the epicenter of chicken heaven. I decided to wait next to a woman who was seated in a motorized cart. At this juncture, I could have pulled out my phone and checked X for Husker news. I’m honestly sick of my mobile device. It doesn’t add much to my mental well-being. I should have bought a flip phone like I had at the turn of the century. There were no employees in the area, and I figured we may have much longer to wait. I introduce myself to her like that “Keith character from the LL Cool J Progressive ads”. “Hey, I’m Tony…what’s your name?.” I learned plenty about Mary Jo that day.

In a nutshell, Mary Jo is 80.  She bought two rotisserie chickens yesterday and gave them to her visiting kiddos when she got home so they didn’t have to bother shopping. “I can come back tomorrow, it’s no big deal” she stated. At this moment, I realize she is a very patient woman. She loves going to church because it’s a lot better than other locations. She lost her husband in 2019. She lost her fun male friend last June.  

My time chatting with Mary Jo at the club was life affirming. She talked about simple pleasures like finding new sandals at Sam’s Club, how much she loves the chicken and pondered why they can’t make more? She talked about how her male friend lived on a golf course and they used to love watching small airplanes take off nearby as they enjoyed their morning coffee on the deck. She spoke of beautiful churches she saw on her travels and how amazing choirs can sound. I hope she enjoyed our chat half as much as I did. It was WAY BETTER than checking X.

During our chat, there was a man who gained the attention of a Sam’s Club worker. They had a brief discussion. He may have quietly passed him bribe money. When the big moment arose about 15 minutes later, that same worker doled out the first chicken to that guy who ran off. Did I just witness a drug deal? I thought maybe that’s what it takes to get ahead in business. Build a relationship. Make a deal. Look out for yourself. Oh well. I can be patient. That’s one quality you learn being a full-time caretaker.

Then, the cart with fifteen chickens rolled out. About seven individuals from the back of the meals to go aisle run to it like they were escaping the bulls in Pamplona. Two in front of me box out others like they were Shaquille O’Neal at an NBA game. Some take two or three. Cart gone. Mary Jo and I had no chickens. She then asked me if I would “fight” for her chicken. I thought to myself I should have lifted more weights this morning at the gym. I retorted “I will definitely box them out for ya, Mary Jo.” 10 minutes later was round two with the cart filled with poultry. We had success. No bruises. We left happy…with chickens.

I learned plenty that morning.

• How you make people FEEL is important.
• Keep an open mind – don’t judge.
• Being selfish may get you quick returns; however, is no way to live your best life.
• Caregiving is not as sexy as being a radio star.
• Don’t quit – power through obstacles.
• Be thankful for genuine conversations.
• Appreciate the small beauties in life.
• Go to places that give you joy – stay away from areas of despair.
• Patience is a virtue. Not everyone has it. It’s a gift.
• Your neighbor or stranger next to you may have exceptional stories to tell. Listen.
• Cherish time with loved ones. They may leave you at a moment’s notice.

Wear pants. I am no David. Way too many calories consumed from Sam’s Club.